By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
IndebtaIndebta
  • Home
  • News
  • Banking
  • Credit Cards
  • Loans
  • Mortgage
  • Investing
  • Markets
    • Stocks
    • Commodities
    • Crypto
    • Forex
  • Videos
  • More
    • Finance
    • Dept Management
    • Small Business
Notification Show More
Aa
IndebtaIndebta
Aa
  • Banking
  • Credit Cards
  • Loans
  • Dept Management
  • Mortgage
  • Markets
  • Investing
  • Small Business
  • Videos
  • Home
  • News
  • Banking
  • Credit Cards
  • Loans
  • Mortgage
  • Investing
  • Markets
    • Stocks
    • Commodities
    • Crypto
    • Forex
  • Videos
  • More
    • Finance
    • Dept Management
    • Small Business
Follow US
Indebta > News > Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play
News

Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play

News Room
Last updated: 2024/12/24 at 1:06 PM
By News Room
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

The reformist government of Masoud Pezeshkian has lifted Iran’s ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, in a first step towards easing internet restrictions in the nation of 85mn people.

A high-level meeting chaired by President Pezeshkian on Tuesday overcame resistance from hardline factions within the Islamic regime, Iranian media reported, as the government seeks to reduce pressures on civil society.

“Today, we took the first step towards lifting internet restrictions by demonstrating unity,” Sattar Hashemi, Iran’s minister of telecommunications, wrote on X. “This path will continue.”

This move comes after Pezeshkian refused to enforce a hijab law recently ratified by the hardline parliament that would have imposed tougher punishments on women choosing not to observe a strict dress code.

His government has also quietly reinstated dozens of university students and professors who had previously been barred from studying or teaching.

The Islamic regime is grappling with mounting economic, political and social pressures both at home and across the Middle East, particularly after the unexpected collapse of its key regional ally, the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad. 

The regime has a long history of weathering crises and maintaining power. But the convergence of domestic and foreign challenges has prompted questions about whether the leadership would respond by tightening controls over the population — or embracing reforms.

Hardliners argue that the internet is a tool used by adversaries such as the US and Israel to wage a “soft war” against the Islamic republic. Reformists contend that repression only worsens public discontent.

Pezeshkian, who won the presidential election in July, campaigned on promises to improve economic and social conditions, with a particular focus on easing restrictions on women’s dress and lifting internet censorship.

Hardliners had imposed restrictions on platforms like X, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram, but Iranians continued to access them through VPNs widely available in domestic markets.

Reformist politicians have accused hardliners of hypocrisy, claiming some of them both enforce internet censorship and profit from the sale of VPNs through alleged links with companies offering them.

Ali Sharifi Zarchi, a pro-reform university professor recently reinstated to his position, described Tuesday’s decision as “a first step” that was “positive and hopeful”. However, he added, “It should not remain limited to these two platforms.”

Read the full article here

News Room December 24, 2024 December 24, 2024
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Finance Weekly Newsletter

Join now for the latest news, tips, and analysis about personal finance, credit cards, dept management, and many more from our experts.
Join Now
China falls for American-style bulk buying at Sam’s Club despite US trade tensions

On a recent weeknight in Shanghai, customers packed one of the city’s…

Summertime sadness is a real thing

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects…

Manufacturers plead for US tariff clarity before copper stockpiles dwindle

Global manufacturing executives are begging for clarity on Donald Trump’s tariff policy…

BCG earned more than $1mn for Gaza aid barge project

Boston Consulting Group was paid more than $1mn for work with a…

Linda Yaccarino: Elon Musk’s X deputy who ‘tried to ride the tiger’

Linda Yaccarino insisted three weeks ago that little had changed when billionaire…

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You Might Also Like

News

China falls for American-style bulk buying at Sam’s Club despite US trade tensions

By News Room
News

Summertime sadness is a real thing

By News Room
News

Manufacturers plead for US tariff clarity before copper stockpiles dwindle

By News Room
News

BCG earned more than $1mn for Gaza aid barge project

By News Room
News

Linda Yaccarino: Elon Musk’s X deputy who ‘tried to ride the tiger’

By News Room
News

Vietnam got an early trade deal with Donald Trump. Was it worth it?

By News Room
News

Italian court confirms UniCredit must exit Russia to complete BPM takeover

By News Room
News

Trump says he will impose 30% tariffs on the EU and Mexico from August 1

By News Room
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Youtube Instagram
Company
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Press Release
  • Contact
  • Advertisement
More Info
  • Newsletter
  • Market Data
  • Credit Cards
  • Videos

Sign Up For Free

Subscribe to our newsletter and don't miss out on our programs, webinars and trainings.

I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
Join Community

2023 © Indepta.com. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?